Brazilian Federal Judge Sergio Moro, famous for leading the Lava Jato ("Car Wash") corruption probe has issued a warrant for the arrest of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Moro gave Lula 24 hours to present himself to federal police in the southern city of Curitiba, meaning the former Workers' Party (PT) leader has until 5pm tomorrow to surrender.

Moro's decision comes after an appeals court said he must start a 12-year-and-one-month term for corruption. Last year, the federal judge convicted Lula of trading favours with a construction company in exchange for the promise of a beachfront apartment. That conviction was upheld by the appeals court in January.

The orders follow a narrow Supreme Court ruling in the early hours of this morning denying the ex-leader's request to delay the sentence while pursuing appeals against the conviction handed down last year.